I thought I would do something a bit different for Financial Friday this week. A totally random, sentimental send-off to summer with a photo blog post of some of my favorite memories from the year.

We lit our heater for the first time this week. That is the official start of fall, and the end of flowers, summer showers, pools, and blistering sunshine.

What does that have to do with personal finance, you ask?

Maybe nothing, but probably more than we realize sometimes. How many of us get so caught up our financial life that we start seeing dollar signs stuck to everything? ​

A gorgeous storm rolling in at dawn.

It's been such a busy (and fast) year, that I can barely recall taking many of these photos, let alone what I was thinking at the time.

But I am about 85% positive that at some point I looked through the lens and wondered whether or not I could sell the image as a print, or whether I needed a better backdrop so it could be a "branded photo" for business.

​(I mean, if it doesn't match the blog or look hot on Instagram, why take it right?)

Our epic gardening fail. This was as close as we got to having cucumbers this year.

Some made it into my "stock" photo folder to use for post images. Some ended up in various places as prints. But not one of these photos actually earned me a penny.

A herd of motorcycles grazing in their natural habitat.

You may or may not give a fig about these photos, but there is a point for blogging them. I know blogging is "all business, all the time". No matter where we are or what we are doing, we are supposed to be capturing something we can use to boost ourselves an inch higher. ​

That day they talked their grandmother into letting them hold their own ice cream.

My Financial Friday advice is to sometimes look at the world without a dollar sign over the lens. Yep, I know that can be almost impossible if you are financially struggling, focusing on your debt-free journey, or working hard to build your brand.​

An impromptu picnic and dramatic storytelling session to celebrate the change of seasons.

​But at the very least, do take time to truly savor the beauty, or awkwardness of your moments, without attaching mental hashtags to every situation!